how to sell
Victoria Falls V
by Stuart Forster
ictoria Falls, the planet’s
largest curtain of
VICTORIA FALLS ESSENTIALS
TIME ZONE: GMT +2
VISAS: UK travellers require visas to enter both Zambia and Zimbabwe. Single- and double-entry visas are available on arrival. For Zambia, visas can be applied for in advance via the Zambian High Commission in London (020 7589 6655;
zambiahc.org.uk). For Zimbabwe, tourist visas are available on arrival or can be acquired in advance from the Zimbabwean Embassy in London (Tel: 020 7836 7755; zimbabwe.
embassyhomepage.com)
LANGUAGE: English is the official language of both countries. Shona is spoken around Victoria Falls.
BOOK IT: Cox and Kings offers a nine-day Taste of Zimbabwe tour, including four days at Victoria Falls and three at Hwange National Park. It is priced from £2,995pp, based on two sharing, including international flights.
coxandkings.co.uk
OTHER OPERATORS:
audleytravel.com kuoni.co.uk imagineafrica.co.uk trailfinders.co.uk virginholidays.co.uk
GETTING THERE:
emirates.com kenya-airways.com klm.com flysaa.com
SEE:
zambiatourism.com zimbabwetourism.net
Elephant Camp, where you can ride orphaned elephants
falling water, is located on the border of Zambia and Zimbabwe. The spectacular waterfall is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the heart of a destination known as an adventure tourism hub and a base for wildlife spotting in nearby national parks.
Why sell
Simply seeing the 354 ft-high and 5,604 ft-wide falls is suffi cient to warrant a visit. Clifftop pathways cut through rainforest; affordable helicopter rides and rafting on the whitewater of the Zambezi River each provide perspectives of the natural landmark. The towns of Livingstone, in
Zambia, and Victoria Falls, in Zimbabwe, provide a broad choice of accommodation, ranging from budget backpackers' hostels to luxury lodges. The colonial-style Victoria Falls
Hotel has a terrace where guests can enjoy high tea while viewing the phenomenon known to locals as Mosi-oa-Tunya – meaning ‘the smoke that thunders’ due to the tumultuous noise and mist-like spray. Victoria Falls can be combined well with stays in Zimbabwe’s Hwange National Park (a four-hour drive), Botswana’s Chobe National Park (two-hour drive) and as an adjunct to holidays in South Africa.
Close to the edge at Devil's Pool, Victoria Falls
“Victoria Falls is one of the world’s great natural sights, offers adventure tourism activities and has good wildlife”
Sell to whom
Honeymooners seeking a romantic getaway, wildlife enthusiasts and adventure sport lovers have plenty to choose from in this area.
What to sell
This is a good area to halt at during nature-based tours to add a dash of adrenalin. Bungee jumps are offered from Victoria Falls Bridge, 364 feet above the Zambezi, while zip-lining and a freefall swing provide a bird’s eye view of the Batoka Gorge. The forest canopy tour, with ropeways and slides, is suitable for families. When the Zambezi’s waters are low, from September to January, those with a head for heights can bathe overlooking the edge of the falls at the spot known as the Devil’s Pool. The cottages of Tongabezi (tongabezi. com) in Zambia and the tented
sellingtravel.co.uk
accommodation of the Elephant Camp (
theelephantcamp.com), on the Zimbabwean side, featuring sundecks and plunge pools, are just two of the area’s many upscale offerings. Elephant Camp doubles as a
conservation projects and gives visitors the chance to meet, feed and ride orphaned elephants. You can walk with captive-bred lions on both sides of the border, at Lion Encounter (
lionencounter.com) sites, and do a lion drive near Livingstone. Sunset cruises on the Zambezi, looking out for hippos and crocodiles, are another big draw.
What’s new
A renovation of the 72-room Victoria Falls Safari Lodge (victoria-falls-safari-
lodge.com) was completed in August. The lodge has rooms with balconies overlooking sunsets in Victoria Falls National Park.
When to sell
Victoria Falls is a year-round destination. October and November, the peak of the dry season, is the best time for local safaris. Bird spotters can enjoy viewing migrant birds from late September until March. March and April, the end of the rainy season, sees the falls in their full glory. •
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